Disposable containers package

ABSTRACT

A disposable containers package includes a plurality of identical disposable containers, and an identification arrangement. Each of the disposable containers has a container body defining a receiving cavity. The identification arrangement includes a plurality of identification badges formed on main container bodies of the disposable containers respectively, wherein each of the identification badges contains a unique identification element formed on the corresponding identification badge for uniquely identifying the corresponding disposable container so as to render each of the disposable containers recognizable by several users thereof through the unique identification element.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a container, and more particularly to adisposable container package comprising an identification arrangementwhich is capable of allowing users of the disposable containers touniquely identify each of the disposable containers without recourse toundue inconvenience.

2. Description of Related Arts

Disposable containers, such as disposable party cups, have widely beenregarded and in fact been utilized to provide a highly convenient andeconomical means of carrying beverage in a wide variety of activitiesand functions, such as a large-scale party. Organizers of such a partydo not wish to spend much money and labor for preparing and transportingconventional non-disposable containers which are usually heavy in weightand bulky in size, and for cleaning those non-disposable containersafter the relevant function has ended. As a result, many organizers wishto utilize disposable containers for the sake of convenience andcost-effectiveness.

Despite their convenience and cost-effectiveness, there are severaldisadvantages in relation to the conventional disposable containers,such as disposable party cups. First, almost all conventional disposablecontainers are manufactured and packed in a package containing apredetermined amount of identical disposable containers. As a result,when the package is opened and the disposable containers are retrievedfor use by many people, they are simply not identifiable in the sensethat each particular user cannot, after using and putting it aside,recognize his or her own cup again because every single disposable cupis identical to each other. The user may therefore dispose of his or herused cup and get a new one every time he or she consumes a drink. Thisscenario is particularly problematic in that users of disposable cupswould simply waste a substantial amount of the disposable containers andmay actually render the total amount of disposable cups embarrassinglyinadequate for a particular activity. Even when people are aware of thepossible environment impact and potential cups shortage problems, whatthey can do is actually very little. When many people are participatingin an activity such as a party, they may use the wrong cups and thiscause obvious hygiene problem.

As an attempt to mitigate these inconveniences, some people may bringpens with them they would put their names on the cups which they haveused so that others will not take the wrong cup. While this ‘strategy’works fairly well for those who have pens, many more cups or containersare still left unattended because many people do not usually have penswith them and those who have may even do not bother to write any mark onthe cups. As a result, the old problem persists.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a disposablecontainer package which comprises an identification arrangement capableof allowing users of the disposable containers to uniquely identify eachof the disposable containers without recourse to undue inconvenience.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposablecontainer package which comprises an identification arrangementcomprising a plurality of identification badges uniquely formed on eachof the disposable containers so as to allow recognition of each of thedisposable containers by the corresponding identification badge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposablecontainer package comprising an identification arrangement which aims topromote an environmentally friendly and hygienically sound practice inusing disposable containers by fellow consumers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposablecontainer package comprising an identification arrangement whichprovides an easy and convenient way of distinguishing and identifyingsubstantially identical disposable containers, wherein theidentification arrangement can be properly adapted to fit differenttypes of disposable containers and for different environments in whichthe disposable containers are to be utilized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposablecontainer package comprising an identification arrangement which is easyand economical to manufacture so not to impose significant manufacturingcosts to the disposable containers. As such, the original purposes ofutilizing disposable containers, i.e. convenient and cost-effective fromthe point of view of activities' organizers, are not noticeablyundermined.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the presentinvention provides a disposable container package, comprising:

a plurality of identical disposable containers, wherein each of thedisposable containers has a container body defining a receiving cavity;and

an identification arrangement which comprises a plurality ofidentification badges formed on main container bodies of the disposablecontainers respectively, wherein each of the identification badgescontains a unique identification element formed on the correspondingidentification badge for uniquely identifying the correspondingdisposable container so as to render each of the disposable containersrecognizable by several users thereof through the unique identificationelement.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a disposable container packageaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the disposable container packageaccording to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention,illustrating that the identification badges are printed onto thedisposable containers respectively.

FIG. 3 is a first alternative mode of the disposable container packageaccording to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a disposable containerspackage according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated, in which the disposable containers package comprises aplurality of substantially identical disposable containers 10, and anidentification arrangement 20.

Each of the plurality of identical disposable containers 10, such as adisposable party cup or a plastic bottle, has a container body 11 whichdefines a receiving cavity 12 within the container body 11.

The identification arrangement 20 comprises a plurality ofidentification badges 21 formed on the container bodies 11 of thedisposable containers 10 respectively, wherein each of theidentification badges 21 contains a unique identification element 211formed on the corresponding identification badge 21 for uniquelyidentifying the corresponding disposable container 10 so as to rendereach of the disposable containers 10 recognizable by several usersthereof through the unique identification element 211 for uniquelydistinguishing one disposable container 10 from others.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each ofthe disposable containers 10 is embodied as a plastic bottle (FIG. 1) inwhich the container body 11 has an outer surface 13 for allowing thecorresponding identification badge 21 to be formed thereon. It is notedthat the disposable containers 10 are preferably made of plasticmaterial, yet they can also be made of paper materials for differentkinds of disposable containers 10.

On the other hand, each of the identification badges 21 has a uniqueidentification sign as the unique identification element 211 coated onthe outer surface 13 of the corresponding disposable container 10,wherein the identification sign coating contains a recognizable sign,such as a numerical number, or an alphabet, formed on the outer surface13 for uniquely distinguishing each of the disposable containers 10 fromthe other. For example, if the disposable containers package comprisesaltogether twenty six disposable containers 10, the uniqueidentification elements 211 form the twenty six English alphabets (i.e.A-Z) on the disposable containers 10 respectively, so that each of thedisposable containers 10 is uniquely distinguishable from each other.Alternatively, the unique identification elements 211 may take otherforms, such as numerical characters (e.g. 1-100), different combinationsof English alphabets (e.g. A-Z, AA, AB, AC . . . etc.), characters ofother language systems (e.g. I, II, III, IV, V . . . etc.), acombination of alphabets or characters (e.g. “M A R Y”), or even aspecific figure or drawing (e.g. a dog or a hen). The purpose of theidentification badges 21 is to uniquely distinguish each of the each ofthe disposable containers 20 from the other so that users of the presentinvention know readily whether or not that a particular disposablecontainer 20 belongs to him or her.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, each of the disposable containers 20may have a particular package tag attached onto the container body 11,wherein the identification badges 21 are printed onto the package tag ofthe container body 11 of the corresponding disposable container 10.Alternatively, each of the identification badges 21 may be provideddirectly onto the container body 11 so that the identification element211 is formed on the corresponding outer surface of the container body11 of the disposable container. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 of thedrawings, each of the identification elements 211 (graphical logos inthis case) is directly formed on the aluminum cans as the disposablecontainers 10.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a first alternative mode of thedisposable containers package according to the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is illustrated. The first alternative mode issimilar to the preferred embodiment except the identificationarrangement 20′. According to the first alternative mode, each of theidentification badges 21′ comprises a sticker detachably attached ontothe outer surface 13′ of the container body 11′ for the correspondingdisposable container 10, wherein the unique identification elements 211′are formed on the stickers respectively in such a manner that when thesticker attaches onto the container body 11′, the corresponding uniqueidentification element 211′ is adapted to uniquely distinguish thatdisposable container 10′ from the others. In other words, a user is ableto pick which identification badge 21′ he or she wishes to use fordistinguishing his or her disposable container 10′. For example, theuser may pick four identification badges 21′ each bearing the alphabetconstituting his or her name so that the unique identification elements211′ may form the word, say, “M A R Y” for a given female user.

It is worth mentioning that the disposable container package may furthercomprise a containing pack 30′ storing the disposable containers 10 andthe identification arrangement 20′. Thus, the disposable containerpackage can be conveniently available to users.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

1. A disposable containers package, comprising: a package; a pluralityof identical disposable containers being packed in said package, whereineach of said disposable containers has a container body defining areceiving cavity; and an identification arrangement which comprises aplurality of identification badges formed on main container bodies ofsaid disposable containers respectively, wherein each of saididentification badges contains a unique identification element formed onsaid corresponding identification badge for uniquely identifying saidcorresponding disposable container so as to render each of saiddisposable containers recognizable by several users thereof through saidunique identification element.
 2. The disposable containers package, asrecited in claim 1, wherein each of said unique identification elementscomprises a unique identification sign printed on an outer surface ofsaid corresponding disposable container, wherein said identificationsign coating contains a recognizable sign formed on said outer surfacefor uniquely distinguishing each of said disposable containers from saidother disposable containers.
 3. The disposable containers package, asrecited in claim 1, wherein each of said disposable containers comprisesa package tag attached thereon, wherein each of said uniqueidentification elements comprises a unique identification sign printedon said corresponding package tag of said disposable container, whereinsaid identification sign coating contains a recognizable sign formed onsaid package tag for uniquely distinguishing each of said disposablecontainers from said other disposable containers.
 4. The disposablecontainers package, as recited in claim 2, wherein said uniqueidentification signs of said identification elements are differentEnglish alphabets printed on said disposable containers so as todistinguish each of said disposable containers from said otherdisposable containers.
 5. The disposable containers package, as recitedin claim 3, wherein said unique identification signs of saididentification elements are different English alphabets printed on saidpackage tag of said disposable containers so as to distinguish each ofsaid disposable containers from said other disposable containers.
 6. Thedisposable containers package, as recited in claim 2, wherein saidunique identification signs of said identification elements aredifferent numerical characters printed on said disposable containers soas to distinguish each of said disposable containers from said otherdisposable containers.
 7. The disposable containers package, as recitedin claim 3, wherein said unique identification signs of saididentification elements are different numerical characters printed onsaid package tag of said disposable containers so as to distinguish eachof said disposable containers from said other disposable containers. 8.The disposable containers package, as recited in claim 4, wherein eachof said disposable containers is a disposable paper-made party cup,wherein said identification badges are formed on an outer surface ofsaid disposable paper-made party cup.
 9. The disposable containerspackage, as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said disposablecontainers is a disposable paper-made party cup, wherein saididentification badges are formed on an outer surface of said disposablepaper-made party cup.
 10. The disposable containers package, as recitedin claim 7, wherein each of said disposable containers is a disposablepaper-made party cup, wherein said identification badges are formed onan outer surface of said disposable paper-made party cup.
 11. Thedisposable containers package, as recited in claim 4, wherein each ofsaid disposable containers is a liquid bottle, wherein saididentification badges are formed on an outer surface of said disposableliquid bottle.
 12. The disposable containers package, as recited inclaim 6, wherein each of said disposable containers is a liquid bottle,wherein said identification badges are formed on an outer surface ofsaid disposable liquid bottle.
 13. The disposable containers package, asrecited in claim 7, wherein each of said disposable containers is aliquid bottle, wherein said identification badges are formed on an outersurface of said disposable liquid bottle.
 14. The disposable containerspackage, as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said disposablecontainers is a disposable aluminum can, wherein said identificationbadges are formed on an outer surface of said aluminum can.
 15. Thedisposable containers package, as recited in claim 6, wherein each ofsaid disposable containers is a disposable aluminum can, wherein saididentification badges are formed on an outer surface of said aluminumcan.
 16. The disposable containers package, as recited in claim 7,wherein each of said disposable containers is a disposable aluminum can,wherein said identification badges are formed on an outer surface ofsaid aluminum can.
 17. The disposable containers package, as recited inclaim 2, wherein each of said identification badges comprises a stickerdetachably attached onto an outer surface of said correspondingcontainer body of said corresponding disposable container, wherein saidunique identification elements are formed on said stickers respectivelyin such a manner that when said sticker attaches onto said containerbody, said unique identification element is adapted to uniquelydistinguish said disposable container from said other disposablecontainers.
 18. The disposable containers package, as recited in claim17, wherein said unique identification signs of said identificationelements are different English alphabets printed on said disposablecontainers so as to distinguish each of said disposable containers fromsaid other disposable containers.
 19. The disposable containers package,as recited in claim 17, wherein said unique identification signs of saididentification elements are different numerical characters printed onsaid disposable containers so as to distinguish each of said disposablecontainers from said other disposable containers.
 20. The disposablecontainers package, as recited in claim 18, wherein each of saiddisposable containers is a disposable paper-made party cup, wherein saididentification badges are formed on an outer surface of said disposablepaper-made party cup.
 21. The disposable containers package, as recitedin claim 19, wherein each of said disposable containers is a disposablepaper-made party cup, wherein said identification badges are formed onan outer surface of said disposable paper-made party cup
 22. Thedisposable containers package, as recited in claim 18, wherein each ofsaid disposable containers is a disposable aluminum can, wherein saididentification badges are formed on an outer surface of said aluminumcan.
 23. The disposable containers package, as recited in claim 19,wherein each of said disposable containers is a disposable aluminum can,wherein said identification badges are formed on an outer surface ofsaid aluminum can.
 24. The disposable containers package, as recited inclaim 18, wherein each of said disposable containers is a liquid bottle,wherein said identification badges are formed on an outer surface ofsaid disposable liquid bottle.
 25. The disposable containers package, asrecited in claim 19, wherein each of said disposable containers is aliquid bottle, wherein said identification badges are formed on an outersurface of said disposable liquid bottle.